You’re not eating enough protein
If you have hair falling out, here’s another reason to load up on protein at every meal: It helps to create your hair. When you suffer a deficiency of protein, your body may shut down hair growth and you can see hair loss, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Women should be getting at least 46 grams of protein per day, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Neva Cochran, RD, a registered dietitian in Dallas, Texas recommends that your protein intake come from a variety of food sources, not just meat. Adding half a cup of pinto beans to your next dinner gets you an extra 11 grams of protein. Try these 11 natural remedies for hair loss, too.
You’re not getting enough iron
For vegetarians, or people trying to limit their meat intake, becoming iron deficient is a real concern, and a diet lacking in iron may lead to hair loss. Women between the ages of 19 and 50 should get 18 mg of iron per day, and women 51 and older should get 8 mg per day, according to the National Institutes of Health. But don’t run to the drugstore for supplements so quickly: Cochran does not recommend taking an iron supplement without having a proven iron deficiency diagnosed by a doctor. Instead, add iron-rich foods to your diet. These foods include sweet potatoes, soybeans, squash, lentils, and spinach. Find out the 16 reasons your hair is falling out.
You’re coping with a high-stress situation
Feeling anxiety about your performance review or your annual doctor visit is unlikely to cause chunks of your hair to fall out. But intensely stressful situations—think: life-threatening medical diagnosis, the death of a loved one—can trigger hair falling out even weeks after the initial event. “Extreme stress can cause hair loss six weeks to three months after a stressful event,” says Elizabeth B. Houshmand, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Dallas, Texas. The good news is that for most hair will grow back normally once stress is reduced, although it may take up to a year.. Learn the other at-home trick doctors recommend for thinning hair.